Re: Humanism in 2006

Joseph H wrote:

> > we can never forget that the most important task for us is the human
> > point of view.

> Yes, of course - but my point is that the "human point of view" musr
> relate to more than humans. We impact upon so much. We impact upon the
> planet; we impact greatly on the other creatures on the planet. We
> explore the mechanisms of life itself. We explore and utilise the
> chemistry of matter - fossil fuels, nuclear power etc. Also, we must
> make provision for the future of human life. Is our future as a species
> not essential to any inquiry focused on the "human point of view"? I

All those things you said are important to us as humans.

> have said earlier that humanism has no "past".

I described earlier how humanism _IS_ our past.

Without humanism we would not be able to think like this or communicate
like this.
Humanism took us out of the restricting religious thinking and
memorizing of bible verses, into a modern world where we learn science
and critical thinking in schools, where we have modern technology like
cars and computers

> I might also say that it has no future - no future in mind, I mean.

Humanism is working for a better future, which we create by ourselves,
free from limiting old religious traditions which lock us into a
certain way to live, a certain way to think, a certain way to be,
certain social power structures.

> What kind of life should
> human beings expect, or hope, to achieve on this planet? I think it is
> a germane inquiry. What is stopping us achieve such a society? Is it
> just religion? Or is it other people?

It is mainly religion, religious people, that stops us from developing
better ways to live and create our world together. Religion is closely
related to capitalism, so we can also say that capitalism is the big
problem.

> Or is it something fundamental to the human being itself?

This is the old defence or capitalism and creationism. They say it is
our "nature" so we cannot change the world, it would be against our
"nature".

But the "nature" they are referring to is a culture, a result of a lot
of manipulation and training of the human mind, to create a social
upper class, the supermen, the created "gods", who are supposed to rule
the weaker minds of less trained and less hardened souls.

> Can we visualise how some future ideal human society
> might shape up?

Look at my suggestion of a future of a moneyless society based on
voluntary work and a maximum of personal freedom.
http://hem.passagen.se/rj77/

And later articles by me. Search words: car registry voluntary

> Is such a society no more than a wish on our part or
> can we see a trend in history towards such a society?

The trend in history is toward democracy, welfare, socialism, utopism,
internationalism

The reactionary and conservative resistance against this trend is
capitalism, religion, nationalism.


--
Roger J.

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Is religion "cultural baggage" or a natural, default way of thinking?
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  • Re: Humanism in 2006
    ... Roger Johansson wrote: ... > I described earlier how humanism _IS_ our past. ... What is stopping us achieve such a society? ... > It is mainly religion, religious people, that stops us from developing ...
    (talk.philosophy.humanism)
  • Re: Launch of Hindu state school
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  • Re: Launch of Hindu state school
    ... vegetarianism, some veganism, perhaps liberalism, humanism? ... Society predates socialism or any other ideology. ... Capitalism its ... Neither can one do the same with any religion which is not based upon ...
    (uk.legal)
  • Re: Humanism in 2006
    ... >>> So it is not two kinds of humanism, it is the same humanism in ... > to make life better for humans. ... Can we visualise how some future ideal human society ... > religion based society. ...
    (talk.philosophy.humanism)